The Golden State goes green

California has passed a voluntary green building code that outlines topics such as water use, energy reduction, and air quality.

By Source: Central Valley Business Times August 6, 2009

The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) has passed a voluntary green building code that provides even further detail to California’s energy code , which is one of the toughest codes for energy efficiency in the United States, according to the Central Valley Business Times .

The new code encourages a building’s reduction of potable water use by 20% and specifies improvements a building can make to plumbing fixtures, allowing for less wasted water. There is also a multi-level plan to reduce energy usage by 15% to 30%, thanks to more efficient appliances and windows, safer insulation, and a variety of other performance-enhancing measures. Improving air quality, encouraging resource conservation, and outlining a better plan for storm water also is detailed in the code.
"This new code encourages the use of renewable, recyclable, and recycled material in the building process, requiring all California buildings to be constructed with the environment in mind," said Dave Walls, executive director of the CBSC.